Exposure and

vulnerability of
disasters
What is exposure and vulnerability in disaster?

Exposure represents the stock of property and infrastructure exposed to a hazard, and it
can include socioeconomic factors. Vulnerability accounts for the susceptibility to
damage of the assets exposed to the forces generated by the hazard.
Meaning

Hazard – a potentially destructive physical phenomenon (e.g., an earthquake, a windstorm, a flood). Common natural
hazards include floods, volcanic eruptions,, hurricanes, drought, tsunami, landslides, and more.

Exposure – the location, attributes, and value of assets that are important to communities (people, buildings, factories,
farmland, etc.) and that could be affected by a hazard.

Vulnerability – the likelihood that assets will be damaged/destroyed/affected when exposed to a hazard. For example, a
building with multiple floors may be more vulnerable to shaking from an earthquake and more likely to collapse than a
one-story building. Another example, an elderly person may be more vulnerable to the impacts of flooding because s/he has
a harder time evacuating or moving quickly.
How do we measure disaster risk?
.

Identifying, assessing and understanding disaster risk is critical to reducing it.

We can measure disaster risk by analysing trends of, for instance, previous disaster losses. These
trends can help us to gauge whether disaster risk reduction is being effective. We can also estimate
future losses by conducting a risk assessment.
A comprehensive risk assessment considers the full range of potential disaster events and their
underlying drivers and uncertainties. It can start with the analysis of historical events as well as
incorporating forward-looking perspectives, integrating the anticipated impacts of phenomena that
are altering historical trends, such as climate change. In addition, risk assessment may consider rare
events that lie outside projections of future hazards but that, based on scientific knowledge, could
occur. Anticipating rare events requires a range of information and interdisciplinary findings, along
with scenario building and simulations, which can be supplemented by expertise from a wide range of
disciplines.
context
Reason

Climate and disaster risks arise due to compounding and cascading hazards and impacts, leading to complex
and interconnected adverse consequences for various ecological and human systems. Recent guidance
acknowledges that risk assessment and management in the context of climate change requires a
comprehensive, systemic perspective on risk and its underlying drivers to the compact and partly systemic
nature of climate-related risks.
 Reason
Elements exposed to
hazards

Physical
Cultural
Economic
Environmental
Physical hazard
A physical hazard is an agent, factor or circumstance that can cause harm with
contact. They can be classified as type of occupational hazard or environmental
hazard. Physical hazards include ergonomic hazards, radiation, heat and cold stress,
vibration hazards, and noise hazards.
Environmental hazard
Environmental hazards are defined as extreme events or substances in the Earth
and its ecological system that may cause adverse consequences for humans and
things they value.
]
Cultural- The disaster from your socioeconomic status,
occupation and behavioral choices

Economic- The flow of currency

Environmental- surroundings of the affected

Vulnerability sectors

Agriculture and food - food production and harvesting

Forestry and water resources -Planted forests irrigated with wastewater may be
established for the production of lumber, pulpwood or woodfuel or for
environmental purposes

HUMAN FACTORS

Wealth- poor are less able to afford housing

 Reason

Vulnerable sectors

Agriculture and food

the agency of the United Nations that institutes and administers programs, especially
in underdeveloped countries, for improving farming methods and increasing food
production.
Forestry and water resources

Planted forests irrigated with wastewater may be established for the production of
lumber, pulpwood or woodfuel or for environmental purposes
Coastal marine resources
 Source

understandingdisaster/risk